First and foremost every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth. - Pope Benedict XVI At the University of Mary, we welcome and serve students of many faiths. Our campus community has always fostered a genuine spirit of Benedictine hospitality. We also take seriously our responsibility to promote a campus culture in which our students who are Catholic can grow and flourish in their faith, a campus culture in which Catholic teaching and practice are experienced as part of a living and vibrant heritage. Our new Statement of Mission and Identity describes the University of Mary as "joyfully Catholic". Here's a sampling of how Catholic culture finds expression at the University of Mary: Campus Ministry Campus Ministry serves the spiritual needs of the University of Mary community by offering retreats, studies in Sacred Scripture, prayer groups, celebration of the Sacraments, music and song, volunteer opportunities, and social gatherings. A team of peer ministers works side by side with Campus Ministry staff and Father Benedict, the University's chaplain, to provide strong leadership for encounters of faith for students striving to live the Christian life. [more details] Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation The presence on our campus of the Benedictine Sisters of the Annunciation serves as a steady and welcome reminder of the beauty of life lived in prayer, community, and service. [more details] Catholic Studies The Bishop Paul A. Zipfel Catholic Studies Program is an interdisciplinary academic initiative aimed at immersing students in the rich intellectual and cultural traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Whatever a student's major - business, theology, nursing, and beyond - choosing to participate in Catholic Studies can serve to integrate faith and life. Specialized courses across many fields of study combine with engaging social opportunities, all geared to an authentic experience of the beauty of Catholic thought and culture. [more details] Our Campus in Rome Studying abroad in the Eternal City, a uniquely affordable opportunity at U-Mary, provides a living encounter with the Catholic faith at its historic center. Students walk the streets trod by the martyrs, pray in the catacombs, attend an audience with Pope Benedict XVI, visit the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, travel to the great Benedictine heritage sites, and have classes on-site in Rome and beyond... to pilgrimage places in Italy and throughout Europe. [more details] The "Knights of Virtue" and "Vera Forma" Friendship and encouraging support are essential for living the Christian life. The Knights of Virtue (for men) and Vera Forma ("True Beauty", for women) are two groups on campus for students seeking to live lives of moral courage and true love. Group activities feature great speakers, inspiration for a life of holiness, and conversation about what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Ecclesia Ecclesia is a month-long, intensive summer program open to young adults from across the United States. Led by the Community of Saint John, Ecclesia features credit-bearing classes in philosophy and theology, daily Mass and Adoration, chanted monastic prayer, cultural activities, and backpacking in the North Dakota Badlands. [more details] Cor Christi Cor Christi ("The Heart of Christ") invites high school students to a living encounter with the foundational teachings and practices of the Catholic faith. This new initiative is born from the desire of a group of young priests and other dedicated believers to offer a new generation - through an intensive summer experience - the basics of the adventure of faith. [more details]